TRUMBULL — The Trumbull High football team has designs on moving up the pecking order and re-establishing itself as a prominent program, although coach Bob Maffei doesn’t expect the process to happen overnight. It will take time, he insists, as the Eagles must first tackle a steep learning curve.

“They’re young,” Maffei said Wednesday before practice. “We’re going to play a lot of sophomores and a lot of juniors. They’re pretty talented, so we’ll see how fast they grow. That’s how the season will go.”

The Eagles would like to get back to the level they played at in 2010, when they finished runner-up in the FCIAC and Class LL. They’re a pedestrian 19-22 and have failed to make the playoffs in the four years since then.

How fast can they turn it around? That’s anyone’s guess.

“It’s going to take a little time. That’s all,” Maffei said. “It could be this year, it could be next year, it could be next week, it could be tomorrow. How good we’re going to be, how good we’re going to get, it’s a work in progress right now. But it’s a lot of fun right now. We have a bright future and some good players.”

Some better luck could help speed up the process. Injuries to starter John McElroy and backup Stephen Nagy last year left the Eagles remarkably thin at quarterback, forcing the team to abandon its spread attack in November and shift to the single wing on the fly.

Fortunately, both quarterbacks are back and healthy.

“The ending of last season was very hectic,” said senior Justin Appleby, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman. “Johnny Mac’s back, and he’s looking pretty good.”

Added Maffei: “We’re back to doing our thing, the spread.”

Trumbull scrimmaged Bunnell on Monday and will face Masuk Friday and Ridgefield later in the preseason, giving Maffei ample time to evaluate the roster. The regular season doesn’t start for the Eagles until Sept. 18 at Ludlowe.

The roster, in many ways, is a mystery.

“I think it’s easier if I tell you what seniors are playing,” Maffei said. “Nagy will play slot receiver, and Nate Brunetti will see some action. The backfield’s young. Cory Haslam will be at guard, and Justin Appleby at tackle. Right now it’s Desmond Washington at the other tackle. They’re seniors.

“Cory and Justin will play some defense also, and Kris DiCocco will play middle linebacker.”

The 6-2, 260-pound Haslam, who’s being recruited by the likes of Colgate, Harvard, Yale and Cornell, has seen the team gel over the summer. There’s more “energy, aggressiveness and toughness” in practice, he insists.

“I think we’re going to be pretty good this year,” he said. “Everyone’s coming together. We’re more of a team now. … We’re growing more of a bond now. We’re going to be a tough team.”